Gabriel Batistuta, a former Argentina international, said he was pleased that Lionel Messi had surpassed him as the nation’s leading scorer at the World Cup in Qatar, where the South Americans are getting ready to play France for the championship on Sunday.

Gabriel Batistuta, a former Argentina international, said he was pleased that Lionel Messi had surpassed him as the nation’s leading scorer at the World Cup in Qatar, where the South Americans are getting ready to play France for the championship on Sunday.

Messi scored a penalty against Croatia in a 3-0 semifinal victory, bringing his career total of World Cup goals scored to 11.

“(Messi breaking the record) didn’t hurt me at all because I enjoyed it while I had it,” Batistuta, 53, said in an interview with Argentine newspaper Clarin published on Friday.

“Leo deserves this. If there’s one person who has to be up there, it’s him.

“Messi is not an alien, he is a human being who plays better football than anyone else. When that person exceeds you, you can’t suffer, he just gives you pleasure.”

Lionel Messi is clear ??

Batistuta noted that Messi has outperformed his expectations at the tournament in Qatar with his five goals, three assists, and superb all-around play. Batistuta scored 10 goals in three World Cups between 1994 and 2002.

“I expected him to be much calmer, but he is playing like a 20-year-old,” he said. “And that’s because he’s hungry, he’s here to win the Cup. That’s what football needs, that’s what Leo is spreading to the whole team.”

“Argentina have all the conditions to take the title,” he said. “There’s something in the atmosphere, a positive energy, for this to happen. For Messi and for the fans too.”

The veteran striker believes Lionel Scaloni’s squad has what it takes to defeat the defending champions.

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